Angel Alley is so named after the Angel Inn which stood at the south-western corner of the street in the 17th century. It has a rich and fascinating heritage, being a place where anarchist groups have organised since the 18th century, where printing presses have been established for the dissemination of radical ideas, and most recently where a mutual aid station was initiated by Freedom Press Bookshop during the worst stages of the pandemic.

Historical records describe the Alley as ‘notorious’, being as it was a place where brothels were located, and a site where two women were murdered by Jack the Ripper. There might be different ‘versions’ of the Alley’s history, but we know it has always been a space for people to gather together.

We want to resist characterising the Alley as a space with one particular nature or character. Like all places, it changes with the weather and depending on the time of day, and like all places, it contains visible traces of invisible histories, many of which have yet to come to light. Our stories of Angel Alley are always changing, and if you have a story to share, you can get in touch by emailing publicprogrammes@whitechapelgallery.org.

As part of their work in Angel Alley, RESOLVE Collective collated a significant amount of archival material which they have made accessible online and via a series of pamphlets that can be picked up for free at the Whitechapel Gallery or read online here.

In recent decades the Alley has played host to several artist-led projects and interventions. You can explore some of these past projects here: